IPL 2025: MS Dhoni is 'my father in India', says Matheesha Pathirana, recalls first words of the CSK superstar to him

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For many, MS Dhoni is a cricketing legend. For Matheesha Pathirana, he is something far more intimate -- a father figure. The young Sri Lankan fast bowler, who once dreamt of becoming a pilot and came from a musically gifted family in Kandy, has found his true calling not just in cricket, but under the care of a man he reveres as his "cricketing father".

"In Sri Lanka, you are my father. In India, it is MS Dhoni," said Matheesha's father, Anura, in a heartfelt statement that reflects the depth of the bond his son shares with the Chennai Super Kings stalwart.

Matheesha echoes the sentiment, crediting Dhoni for nurturing him through the most formative years of his professional life. "The support he has given me in cricket is very similar to what my father gave me at home," he once said.

This is not an isolated bond. Dhoni has long been known for the personal relationships he builds with his players. Indian pacer Mohammed Shami once recalled his early days in the Indian team, feeling like a complete outsider until Dhoni made him feel at home. "As far as MS is concerned, it's like a father-son relationship. What more can I say?" Shami told TOI, recalling how he nervously introduced himself to the team in Hindi because he wasn't comfortable in English, only to be accepted with warmth and humour.

Sri Lankan legend and former CSK teammate Muttiah Muralitharan also lifted the veil on Dhoni's open-door leadership style. "MS keeps his room door open. Any teammate-young or old -- can walk in, talk to him about anything, even personal stuff. He listens, guides, and never judges."

For Pathirana, that open door and open heart changed everything. From the first moment, Dhoni greeted him as "Mali"-Sinhala for younger brother -- the stage was set for a relationship grounded in trust and care.

Injuries and growing expectations might have tested his resolve, but CSK's decision to retain him for ₹13 crore before the IPL 2025 mega auction-making him their most valued pacer-speaks volumes of the faith Dhoni and the franchise have placed in him.

Dhoni's paternal presence has shaped not just careers, but characters. Pathirana may have once been the youngest in a family of musicians, treated like a "lab rabbit" by his sisters, but today, under Dhoni's guidance, he is a fierce competitor and one of the most promising fast bowlers in the IPL. His slingy yorkers, calm demeanour, and unwavering respect for the CSK captain reflect more than just mentorship-they reflect a bond forged in genuine affection.

In a cricketing world often driven by numbers and fame, Matheesha Pathirana's story is a rare reminder that greatness can also be quiet, personal, and deeply human. And sometimes, all it takes to unlock someone's full potential is a mentor who chooses to be more than just a captain -- someone who chooses to be a father.